Coupler



Oct. 1, 1946. E. P. KINNE y 2,408,653

Y coUPLER l l Fired July 5o, 1945 ssheets-sneet s l INVENTOR.

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Patented Oct. 1, 1946 ooUPLER Edmund P. Kinne, Alliance,- Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey y Application July so, 194s,jseria1 No. 496,802

This invention relates to couplers of the A. A. R. standard' 'I'ype E bottom rotary operated or the A. A. R. tight lock coupler which, in modifled form, is` the one illustrated herein.'

One of the difficulties which has been experienced with standard A. A.`R. couplers, and especially with the tight lock coupler, is' accidental unlocking, causing .a .train parting. doubt dueto a number/of conditions and has shown the necessity of positive means for holding the lock down in locked position.

An object of this invention' is therefore to provide such positive means for' holdingthe lock down when in coupled position and maintaining this condition until the lock is released by a trainman.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for releasing 'the lock-to-the-lock` or fanticreepv by the trainman without going between the cars, ythus eliminating the possibility of accidental injuries.

Still another object of my invention is to enable the train operator to unlock the coupler, thereby raising the lock to lockset position vfor uncoupling at the same time and by the same means which releases the lock-to-the-lock.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel telltale `means to indicate when the coupler lock is in locked position and when the lock-to-the-lock is functioning.

My invention comprehends means for actuating the lock-to-the-lock and also-raising the coupler Ylock by means of an air cylinder device controlled by the trainman. f

Still another object of my invention is to facilitate locking of the coupler by providing positive means for forcing the lock down without depending solely on gravity las in presentcoupl'ers.

A specific object isto provide a lock-to-the-lock or anticreep member slidablymounted ina slot through the guard arm side of the coupler, said member being adapted for engagement with the top of the lock to hold the same in locked fposition and said member in its retracted position projecting outwardly of the coupler to afford external, visual indication of the fact that the lockto-the-lock is not functioning.

My novel coupler comprehends a, pocket on the guard arm side thereof, said pocket being adapted for the reception of actuating means including an air cylinderdevice for simultaneous actuation of the lock-to-the-'lock and the lock actuating rotor.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of mating couplers embodying my invention, the

43 Claims. (Cl. 213-153) 2 v couplers being in locked condition with the anticreep means in operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the couplers shown in Figure 1, taken'from the guard arm side thereof.A

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken in the vertical transverse planes indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, the lock and anticreep mechanism being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view in the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a further fragmentary sectional view comparable to Figure 3 and showing the antiereep member retracted from engagement with the lock and with the lock in locked position. Y

Figure 6 is' a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 3 with the anticreep member retracted from engagement with the lock and with the lock raised to lockset position.

vFigure 'I is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that of Figure-3 but vshowing the lock in full knuckle throw position, and Figure 8 is a sectionaly view taken in a longitudinal vertical plane through the coupler to further illustrate this condition/ Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 8 but showing the lock resting on the knuckle after the same Ahas been thrown. r f

Describing in detail my novel formof coupler structure and referring `Viirst to the showing thereof-as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, it Will be notedthat each coupler cornprises the usual coupler head, generally designated 2, and -integrally formed with the shank 4, a fragmentary Aportion only of which is shown.

The coupler head comprises the usual guard arm portion 6 and the knuckle 8, which may be'pivoted aty I0 for automatic action in Well known manner. My novel coupler comprises a cavity or recess formed within the coupler head at the knuckle side thereof and I have designated this portion a knuckle tail or guard arm pocket l2, said pocket serving to house resilient means more particularly described hereafter and as illustrated and described in detail in my copending application Serial No. 428,179, iiled January 26, 1942, in the United States Patent Oiiice.

. Each coupler head is lprovided with the spaced dependingtrunnion lugs I4 and I5 aiTOrding-pivotalbearing for the rotor I6, said rotor having a key I8, lasbest ,seen in Figures 3, 8 and 9, for reception. Within aslot 20 on the lifter arm or lever 22 for actuation thereof substantially as shown and described in my Patent No. 1,639,300, issued August 16, 1927, by the United States Patent Oice. The arm 22 is pivoted at 24 to a link 26 which is pivoted at its upper end at 28 to the lock 30, said lock being adapted to be raised outI of locking engagement with the knuckle 8 or to be lowered into said engagement by the rotor I6, the arm 22, and the link 26 in customary inanner. The knuckle tail 29 and the lock 38 are operatively associated with the knuckle thrower 3l in usual manner.

At one end thereof the rotor I Ei is provided with an eye 32 for man-ual actuation in the conventional manner, as by a rod indicated at 33; and at the opposite end thereof said rotor is pro-vided with a lever 34 pivoted at 36 to the piston rod 36 of the piston 40 within the air cylinder 42,k said air cylinder` extending through an opening in the bottom wall 44 of a pocket 45 integrally formed with the coupler head 2. This pocket 1' shall designate a bell crank pocket inasmuch as it houses the bell crank lever 48 pivoted at 58 to the coupler head.

The bell crank 48 is also pivoted at one end thereof as at 52 to the air cylinder and the opposite end of said bell crank extends through an opening in the top wall 54 of the pocket 46 for reception within a slot 56 in an anticreep member 58 which is slidably positioned within a slot 68 defined by the wall 62 and by the top wall 54 of the bell crank pocket 46. A release spring 64, here shown as a coil spring, extends between and bears against an abutment on the cylinder 42 and an abutment on the top wall 54 of the bell crank pocket, each of said abutments comprising positioning lugs received within the spring 64 as clearly illustrated in the sectional views of Figures 3 and 5.

It may be noted that a resilientmember 66 is secured at 68 within the guard arm pocket l2 of each coupler for abutment at with the guard arm of the mating coupler, and likewise the guard arm 6 of each coupler is provided with spaced resilient members 14, 14 mounted respectively above and below theA guard arm nose 'I6 for abutment as at 18 (Figure 1, left) with surfaces on the mating coupler, all as fully illustrated and described in my before-mentioned (zo-pendingl application.

Figures l to 4 show the couplers in coupled position with the locks in locking engagement with the knuckles and with each lock engaged by its associated anticreep member 58. This is accomplished by forcing actuating fluid, such as air, into the upper end of the cylinder 42 through the port 80 and by venting the lower end of the cylinder by means of the port 82, thus causing the piston rod 38 to be urged downwardly within the cylinder 42 to the fullest extent of. the downstroke of said piston. It will be seen that this causes the lever 34 to be urged downwardly and causes the bell crank lever 48 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot 50, th-us urging the anticreep member 58 into engagement with the top of the lock 3'0. At the same time by means of its upward movement the cylinder 42 compresses the spring 64 against the top Wall 54 of the bell crank pocket.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that the anticreep member 58 is withdrawn from engagement with the top of the lock 38, and said anticreep member projects outwardly of the coupler head as at 84, thus acting as a telltale means tioning. At the same time the lever 34 is in substantially the same position as in Figure 1, thus maintaining the lock in locked position with respect to the knuckle tail. This condition is accomplished by exhausting or venting the cylinder at both ends through the ports 88 and 82, thus permitting the release spring 64 to urge the cylinder 42 downwardly, whereby the bell crank 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot 55 to retract the anticreep member 58 from engagement with the topl of the lock 30. Under these conditions the lock may be raised manually or by means of the power cylinder device, as' shown in Figure 6, where the piston is `urged upwardly against the spring 8B within the cylinder 42.

Til

to aord external, visual indication of the fact that the anticreep or lock-to-the-lock is not func- It may be noted that the conditions shown in Figure 6 may be accomplished by venting the upper end of the cylinder through the port 88 and by admitting pressure uid to the lower end of the cylinder through the port 82, thus urging the piston 40 upwardly whereby the piston rod 38 is opera-ble through the lever 34 to rotate the rotor I6 which .lifts the lock 38 through the medium of the arm 22 and the link 26. Downward movement of the cylinder is limited by abutment of the bell crank 48 as at 85 with the top wall of the bell crank pocket 46. Thus vthe lock, as illustrated in Figure 6, is raised by means of the power cylinder device to lockset position preparatory to an uncouplng operation.

Figures 7 to'9 inclusive illustrate the manner in which the knuckle may be thrown by the air cylinder device preparatory to a coupling operation. Assuming that the' coupler knuckle is in closed position and it is desired to open the same in order to effect a coupling, air is vented from the cylinder 42 through the port 8D and actuating iluid is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder through the port 82 until the piston 40 is urged upwardly to the fullest extent of its upstroke within the cylinder 42, thus compressing the spring 86 to a maximum. It will be apparent that under these conditions the lock 30 is urged upwardly with the fulcrum thereon in engagement at 88 (Figure 8) with the ledge or lug 90 within the coupler to aiTord rotatable movement of the lock 38 about the fulcrum, thus throwing the knuckle open by means of the knuckle thrower 3| as will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. Thereafter, both ends of the cylinder 42 may be vented whereupon the spring 86 will urge the piston 40 downward to move the lock 38 downwardly into engagement at 92 (Figure 9) with the knuckle tail 29 preparatory to a coupling operation.

After the couplers have been coupled the weight of the piston 4) will normally actuate the rotor, as in Figure 5, to drop the knuckle 30 into locking engagement with the knuckle tail,l the spring 88 being operable to overcome any friction between the piston 40 and the inside surface of the cylinder 42. Thereupon the lower end of the cylinder may be vented through the port 82 and actuating uid may be admitted to the upper' end of the cylinder through the port 80. This will not only force the lock into locked position in the event that it has not already dropped all of the way but will also urge the anticreep member 58 into engagement with the top of the lock, as illustrated in Figure 3.

l It will `be understood that, if desired, the piston rod 318 may be connected to the bell crank 4,8 and the cylinder `42 may be connected to thelever 34 in a simple reversal of the arrangement illustrated herein.

It is to be understood that I do not wishl to be limited. by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock presenting flat bearing surfaces for compression be tween saidknuckle and a wall on said coupler, depending trunnion lugs on said coupler, a rotor pivoted from said lugs, a vlifter arm interlocked with said rotor, a link pivoted to said arm `and said lock, a lever fixed to said rotor, a bell crank pocket on the guard arm side of said coupler, a bell crank pivoted within said pocket, a slot through said coupler above said pocket and partly defined by the topr wall thereof, an opening through said wall communicating with said slot, a slidable anticreep member mounted in said slot for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, the upper end of said bell crank extending through. said opening for connection to said member, a slot in the bottom wall of said pocket, a double-acting power cylinder device movably positioned within said last-mentioned slot, said device being connected at opposite ends thereof to said lever and said bell crank, and resilient means bearing against the upper end of saiddevice and against said top wall.

2. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock presenting iiat bearing surfaces for compression between'said knuckle and a wall of said coupler,

depending trunnion lugs on said coupler, a rotor v through said wall communicatingwith saidV slot,`

a slidable anticreep member mounted lin vsaid slot forv movement into and outy of locking en'- gagement with said lock, the upper end of said vbell crank extending through vsaid opening for connection to said member, a slotin the bottom vwall of saidy pocket, and a double-acting power x.

cylinder device movablypositioned Within said last-mentioned slot, said device being connected at opposite ends thereof tosaid lever and to said bell crank, said member extending Vthrough said rst-mentioned slot externally of said coupler ya when saidmember is out of engagement with said lock.

3.v In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock presenting flat bearing surfaces for compression between said knuckle and a wall on said coupler, depending trunnion lugs on said coupler, a rotor pivoted from said lugs, a lifter arm interlocked with said rotor, a link pivoted to said arm and said lock, a lever xed to said rotor, a bell crank pocket on the guard arm side of said coupler, a bell crank pivoted Within said pocket, a substantially horizontalslot through said coupler above said pocket and partly defined by the top wall thereof, an opening through said wall communicating with said slot, a slidable anticreep member confined within said slot and adapted for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, the upper end of said bel1 crank extending through said opening for connection to said member, a

slot in the bottomwall of said pocket, ,and a 6 double-acting power cylinder device movably positioned within said last-mentioned slot, said device being connected at opposite ends thereof to said lever and said bell crank respectively.

4. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member slidably mounted on said coupler for movement into and out of locking' engagement with the top of said lock, said coupler comprising guide means for Said member, a bell crank lever fulcrumed within said coupler and connected at one end thereof to said member, a movable double-acting cylinder vdevice connected to the opposite end of said lever, resilient release means bearing against' abutment Vmeans on said cylinder device and said coupler,

said device including a piston having apiston rod operatively associated with said lock formoving the same into and out of locked position. `5. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member slidably mounted on said coupler for movement into and out of locking abutment with said lock, said coupler comprising means for confining said member against substantial relativev movement except for said first-mentioned movement, a bell crank lever fulcrumed within said coupler and connected at onel end thereof to said member, a movable doubleacting cylinder connected to the opposite end of said lever, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod operatively` associatedwith said lock for moving the same into andout of locked position, and resilient release means bearing against abutment means on said cylinder and said coupler.

6. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member slidably mounted within a' complementary substantially horizontal slot through a wall of said coupler for movement into and out of locking abutment with .said lock, a bell crank lever fulcrumed within said coupler and connected at one end thereof to said member, a movable double-acting cylinder connected to the opposite end of said lever, and a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod operatively associated with said lock for moving the same into and out of locked position.

'7. In a coupler, a knuckle, a knuckle thrower operatively associated with said knuckle, and means for throwing said knuckle to open position comprising a fluid pressure device and means operatively connecting said device to said thrower, said last-mentioned means including a lock having means for engagement with said thrower, a lifterlever, a link connecting said lock and said lever, and an operative connection between-said device and said lever. f

8. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle',-pa;lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock comprising a member carried by said coupler and slidable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and an air cylinder device operatively connected to said member for actuating the same, said operative connection including a bellcrank lever operatively connectedy to said member and to said cylinder device.

9. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock comprising a f "member carriedby said coupler and slidableinto and out of locking engagement with said lock.

.an air cylinder device operatively connected to Q10. In a coupler, va pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, and a double acting power lcylinder device movably mounted within said coupler and operatively connected to said lo-ck for. raising and lowering the same to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said device including a cylinder vand piston members, and resilient release lmeans between one of said-members and a wall of said coupler, said operative connection comprising a rotor and a lifter arm pivoted from the coupler, a link connecting said lifter arm to said lock, a cylinder leverfon said'rotor, and an operative connection between said cylinder lever and said device.

11. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, a slot through a wall of said coupler, an anticreep member slidably mounted within'said slot for movement vinto and out of locking engagement with said lock, said member projecting externally of said coupler when out of engagement with said lock, and actuating means having independent operative connections to said member and said lock for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and withdrawing said member from engagement with said lock.

12.' In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means movable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and means for substantially simultaneously withdrawing said anticreep means from engagement with said lock and raising said lock to unlocked position, said second-mentioned means supporting a fluid pressure device operatively and independently connected to said lock and said anticreep means.

13. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock comprising a lmember carried by said coupler and horizontally slidable into and out of locking engagement with the top of said lock, and an air cylinder device operatively connected to said member for actuating the same.

14. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock, and a power cylinder device operatively connected to said means, said means including telltale means affording external, visual indication of the locked v condition of the knuckle, said operative connection comprising a lever spaced from said lock an fulcrumed'to said coupler.

15. In a coupler,` a pivoted knuckle, a' lock therefor, a horizontal slot through 'a wall of said coupler, an anticreep member slidably mounted within said slot for substantially horizontal movement into and out of locking engagement with the top of said lock, and actuating means for said member.

16. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for raising and lowering said lock to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure device including a cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably connecting the upper end of said cylinder member to said coupler, and an operative connection between said piston member and said lock.

17. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for locking engagement with said lock, and a fluid pressure device connected at opposite ends thereof to said lock and said anticreep means, respectively,'for substantially simultaneously withdrawing said anticreep means from locking engagement with said lock and raising said lock to unlocked position.

18. In a coupler, a knuckle, a knuckle thrower `8 operatively associated with` said knuckle,` and means for throwing said knuckle to open' position comprising a uid pressure device,'and means operatively connecting said device to said thrower.

v19. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for raising and lowering said lock to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure' device including a cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably connecting the upper end of said cylinder member to said coupler, means operatively connecting said piston member to said lock, and -resilient release means compressed between said cylinder member and a wall of said coupler.

20. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for raising and lowering said vlock to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure device including a cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably connecting the upper end of said cylinder member to said coupler, and an operative connection between said piston member and said lock, said operative connection comprising a rotor and a lifter arm pivoted from said coupler, a link connecting said lifter arm to saidlock, a cylinder lever on said rotor, and an operative connection between said lever and said piston member.

21. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for moving said lock to unlocked and locked positions, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure device including a cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably connecting said cylinder member to said coupler, resilient release means compressed between said cylinder member and a wall of said coupler, and an operative connection between said piston member and said lock.

22. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for raising and lowering said lock to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure device including a cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably vconnecting one of said members to said coupler, and means operatively connecting the other of said members to said lock.

23. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, means for moving said lock to unlocked and locked positions respectively, said means comprising a double-acting fluid pressure device including a, cylinder member and a piston member therein, means movably connecting one of said .members to said coupler, resilient release means compressed between said last-mentioned member and a wall of said coupler, and means operatively connecting the other of said members to said lock.

24. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep 'means for said lock, actuating means for vsaid anticreep means comprising a iluid pressure'device, and an operative connection between said device and said anticreep means comprising a bell crank lever fulcrumed from said coupler and housed therewithin.

25. In' a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock, a bell crank lever fulcrumed to said coupler land housed therewithin', said lever having an operative connection at one end thereof with said anticreep means, and actuating means operatively connected to the opposite end of said lever.

26. In -a coupler, a rpivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep .me'ans for said lock, a belli crank lever fulcrumed to said coupler and housed therewithin, said lever having an operative connection 'at one end thereof with said anticreep` means, actuating means operatively connected to the opposite end of said'lever, and-resilientl simultaneously movingsaid lock to its unlocked position and moving said anticreep member out of engagement with said lock.

28. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor vertically movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, an anticreep member slidably and guidably mounted within a complementary horizontal slot through a wall of said coupler for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected to both said lock and said anticreep member for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and moving-said anticreep member out of engagement with said lock, said actuating mechanism comprising a iiuid pressure device.

29. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle,l a lock A therefor vertically movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, an anticreep member slidably and guidably mounted within a complementary horizontal slot through a Wall of said coupler for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected to both said lock and said anticreep member for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and moving said anticreep member out of engagement with said lock, said mechanism comprising a fluid pressure device operatively connected to said lock; and means operatively connecting said device to said anticreep member, said last-mentioned means comprising a bell crank lever fulcrumed to said coupler.

30. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor vertically movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, an anticreep member slidably andguidaly mounted within a complementary horizontal slot Vthrough a wall of said coupler for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected to both said lock and said anticreep member for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and moving said anticreep member out of engagement with said lock, said mechanism comprising a fluid pressure device operatively connected to said lock, and means operatively connecting said device to said anticreep member, said last-mentioned means comprising a bell crank lever fulcrumed to said coupler, and resilient release means for said device compressed between a wall of said coupler and one arm of said lever.

3l. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, anticreep means for said lock, operating means for said anticreep means comprising a bell crank lever fulcrumed to said cou- 1.0.?, pler and lvyer.

j32.y 111.22113 therefor'. movable into and out of locking vengagemenptherewith, anticreep means for. said lock, operating means for said anticreep means comprisingabell crank lever'fulcrumed to Isaid coupler,- andA actuating means for said lock and said lever comprising a double-acting fluidY pressure' device. having operative connections at opposite' endslthereof to said lock and Ysaid lever,

respectively. y'33.1111-a;coupler,1a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor movable into and out of locking engagementr'therewith, anticreep means for said lock,

operating means for said anticreep means com-V prising" a bell'craznk'lever fulcrumed to said couplenza'ctuating means for said lock and said lever,

andfresilientrelease means housed within saidA coupler for returning said lever to its released position after. actuation of said device.

34. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for locking engagement with said lock, and a fluid pressure device operatively connected at opposite ends thereof to said lock and said anticreep means, respectively, said means including telltale means affording external, visual indication of the locked condition of the knuckle.

35. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, anticreep means for said lock, operating means for said anticreep means comprising a lever fulcrumed to said coupler, and a fluid pressure device operatively connected to said lever and lock for substantially simultaneously actuating said lever and said lock.

36. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor movable into and out of locking engagement therewith, anticreep means for said lock,

land a fluid pressure device operativelyconnected to said lock and said anticreep means for substantially simultaneously withdrawing said anticreep means from locking engagement with said lock and raising said lock to unlocked position, said operative connection to said anticreep means comprising a lever fulcrumed to said coupler and housed therewithin.

37. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, anticreep means for said lock, a power cylinder device, and a lever fulcrumed to said coupler and connected at opposite ends thereof to said device and said anticreep means for moving said anticreep means into and out of locking engagement with said lock.

38. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member carried by said coupler and movable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and actuating means having independent operative connections to said member and said lock for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and withdrawing said member from engagement with said lock, said member projecting externally of said coupler when out of engagement with said lock.

39. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member carried by said coupler and movable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and actuating means having independent operative connections to said member and said lock for substantially simultaneously moving said lock to its unlocked position and withdrawing said member from engagement with said lock.

actuating means for'said lock and said oupler,y 'a1 pivoted knuckle, a y lock? f 11 40. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member carried by said coup1er and movable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, a lever spaced from said lock and fulcrumed to said coupler and engageable with said member, and a power cylinder device operatively connected t0 said lever for actuating the same and thereby actuating said anticreep member.

41. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock therefor, an anticreep member carried by said coupler and movable into and out of locking engagement with said lock, a lever spaced from said lock and fulcrumed to said Coupler and engageable with said member, and a power cylinder device operatively connected to said lever for actuating the same and thereby actuating said anticreep member, said member projecting externally of said coupler when out of engagement with said lock.

42. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a lock 12- therefor, a slot through a Wall of said coupler, an anticreep member slidably mounted within said slot for movement into and out of locking engagement with said lock, and actuating means having independent operative connections to said 

